Cataract

What is Cataract?

Cataract is the clouding of the natural lens of the eye, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. The disorder causes blurred vision or total loss of vision in people especially above 40 years of ...

Cataract is the clouding of the natural lens of the eye, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. The disorder causes blurred vision or total loss of vision in people especially above 40 years of age. The disorder develops slowly due to protein build-up in the eye and may affect one or both eyes. Cataract may occur due to age factor or due to trauma to the eye (after an accident). It may also occur after birth or after an eye surgery, as a side-effect. The three types of cataracts are subcapsular cataract, nuclear cataract, and cortical cataract.

Subcapsular cataract affects the back of the lens. Nuclear cataract starts from the nucleus of the eye, i.e. the deep central zone of the lens. And, cortical cataract is categorized by white wedge-like patches (opaque) that start from the edge of the lens and extend towards the center of the eye.

When the condition worsens further affecting daily life, surgery is the only solution. During surgery, the surgeons removes clouded and dysfunctioning lens and replace it with a new plastic intraocular lens (IOL).

When do I contact the doctor?

If changes in vision are noticed, appointment with an eye care specialist is recommended. The specialist can confirm if there is any cataract development or other factors affecting the vision.